“MOM!” Park Sora yelled at the top of her lungs as she ran down the hallway in her house. Her black curly hair bouncing around her back as she raced down the stairs.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Sora’s mother mumbled  by the front door as she was getting ready to leave the house to head to her office. She heaved a sigh before turning around to see her daughter jumping down from the last few steps and rush towards her, breathing heavily. “What is it?” She asked her daughter, who in return looked at her with pleading eyes.

“Mother please please PLEASE I beg of you! Don’t let me get married to Lee Taeyong!” Sora begged and she was close to collapsing to the floor to make her mother see how serious she was to get out of this marriage.

“Dear you know I can’t do that. This marriage will be good for you. Plus, what’s wrong with the Lee Taeyong? I heard he is already handling his father’s business at such a young age and the most sought out bachelor of the time.” Sora’s mom said with a raised eyebrow.

“That’s just it mom! He is the most sought out bachelor! Do you know he has a fanbase of all these crazy girls who will rip anyone who so much looks at him into shreds?! Don’t you care about me?” Sora dramatically questioned her mother, who seemed to be growing more and more impatient by the passing time.

“It’s because I care about you that your father and I arranged for this marriage. Don’t you trust us?” Mrs. Park retorted back before she turned around and opened the door.

“Mother please!” Sora attempted one last time before her mother turned to look at her.

“I said no!” Her mother yelled back and turned and left as the door dramatically shut in Sora’s face.

“Madam, at least have some breakfast. Maybe that might help with some of the stress.” Mabel, one of the house maids said. Sora turned to look at Mabel, an elderly woman who Sora always considered to be like her grandmother. She quickly turned and grabbed both of Mabel’s hands in despair.

“Mabel isn’t there anything I can do to get out of this marriage?” Mabel just looked at the girl sadly before pulling her into her arms.

“I’m sorry madam.” She said as she patted Sora’s back. “Let’s go eat something. I don’t want you walking around with an empty stomach.” Mabel pulled Sora with her to the dining room where a few other maids were waiting to serve their mistress.

On the way to work, Mrs. Park called up the Lee household, asking to speak with the lady of the house.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but Madam Lee is not home at the moment. If you would like, I can take a message.” Jay, the butler of the Lee household, said.

“I wanted to see if there would be a way to get in contact with Lee Taeyong.” Mrs. Park said as she stared out the window of her car.

“The young master is actually here at the moment if you would like to talk to him madam.” Jay mention and Mrs. Park perked up at the statement.

“Yes please. I would like to talk to him.” Jay excused himself and Mrs. Park noticed that she had already reached her building. One of the guards standing outside the building hurried over to her and opened the door for her as she stepped out. She calmly walked through the building, nodding at all of the employees who stood up to bow to her. Once she reached the elevator that will take her to the top floor, she heard a male voice coming through the phone.

“Mrs. Park? This is Lee Taeyong speaking.” Mrs. Park smiled and hoped that the boy would have some ways of convincing her daughter to get married to him.

“Taeyong, how lovely to be able to speak with you. Listen, I need some help from you.” Mrs. Park said as she stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor where only her office was. Being the CEO of her own fashion brand really had its perks, such as having her own space to do her own work and think about things. Like how she can get her daughter on board with the marriage proposal between her and Lee Taeyong.

“What can I help you with ma’am?” She heard and she straight up told him about her daughters’ reluctance to get married to him. How she has been cornered in every part of her home by her daughter in trying to convince her in stopping this wedding.

“Please try to find a way to make her agree to this. I know it sounds like a lot, but I don’t know what more I or my husband can do.” She explained and stood by the huge windows that were in the back of her office. It overlooked the busy city of Seoul, but Mrs. Park’s mind was elsewhere.

“I will try my best, but of course, I don’t want to force her into something she doesn’t want to do.” He answered her and Mrs. Park couldn’t help but smile at the answer. He sounds like such a gentleman. I think we picked right. Mrs. Park noticed her faint reflection in the window and sighed when she saw more wrinkles starting to form around her eyes. Her dark complexion had gotten paler and her curly hair that framed her face looked a bit disarrayed.

“Thank you Taeyong, I would really appreciate that. And thank you for taking her feelings into consideration as well. I wish you the best of luck.” Mrs. Park said and hung up the phone before returning her gaze right back out the window.

At the Lee household, Lee Taeyong placed the phone back in its holder before he stared at the wall in front of him with concentration. Why is she so reluctant to get married to me? We have never even met before. He snapped out of his thoughts when he saw two hands clap in front of his eyes and followed them to see his sister Anna stand there with an irritated look.

“I have been calling you for the last minute. What are you thinking about that’s so important that you can’t seem to hear anyone else?” Anna asked but Taeyong just stared at her with a frown. After they both stared at each other for a few more seconds, Taeyong finally spoke up.

“Get Hana. I have a problem.” Anna’s face changed quickly to one of worry before she rushed away to call their younger sister. Taeyong sat down on one of the chairs in the tea room and just kept thinking about the girl he was supposed to marry. I of course don’t want to force her into anything. But I have never met the girl and she already doesn’t want anything to do with me. What did I do wrong?

“Taeyong?” Taeyong’s head snapped to the right where he saw his younger sister stare at him in worry. To ease the tension, Taeyong smiled and gestured her over to him. Once she was close enough, he pulled her to sit next to him and patted her on the head. Hana was more worried then ever because she had never seen her brother so stressed out before in her life. If there ever was a problem, he would have thought up of many solutions. To see him look really lost made her feel lost but was ready to help in any way she could think of. Granted she’s only sixteen and can’t do much but provide moral support. Anna walked in and closed the door to the tea room before sitting on the chair opposite of the other two.

“Ok, what’s wrong?” Anna asked and leaned forward to hear her brother, who seemed to be looking at her and Hana with worry. His right knee was bouncing slightly, and he heaved a sigh.

“Stella Park, the co-CEO of the Park’s fashion, called me today a few minutes ago asking for some help.” Anna looked beyond confused and Hana turned to look at Anna with a frown.

“Why would the co-CEO call you for…oh.” Anna had a sudden look of realization, but Hana still looked at both of her siblings with confusion.

“Why? What’s going on?” Hana looked at Taeyong, who looked back at her with a small smile.

“The co-CEO of Park’s fashion is the mother of Sora Park.” Taeyong explained patiently and Hana’s eyes went wide.

“What kind of help did she want?” Hana asked and Taeyong sighed again before running his fingers through his platinum blonde hair.

“She said that Sora is against this marriage and doesn’t want to marry me. She also said that Sora has been trying to convince her parents to stop this wedding and Mrs. Park wants me to talk to Sora.” Hana looked at Anna with worry, who looked back at her with the same worry.

“You won’t force her, right?” Hana timidly asked which Taeyong rapidly shook his head to. He knew how much their parents forced Hana into going to social events and forcing her to act like someone she’s not. He could see from her young age that she grew up to quickly and into a person she hates being. He couldn’t protect her but he’s willing to protect his fiancé if it comes down to it.

“No, never! You know I wouldn’t. I just want to know why and see if there’s anything I can do to change her mind. But no, I would never force her into it.” Taeyong replied while patting Hana’s head again. Anna grabbed Taeyong’s other arm, the look of worry still prominent on her face.

“Have you thought about how you wanted to approach the situation?” Anna asked and Taeyong shook his head in dismay. He was a pro when it came to business, but he was as clueless as a sunflower at night when it came to girls.

“Why not flowers? And go on a date with her? You know, try to get to know her.” Hana suggested and Anna smacked her fist to her hand.

“That’s perfect Hana! Take her out on a date and try to understand the situation.” Taeyong looked at both of his sisters with his eyebrow raised.

“Just be yourself bro! You can do this!” Hana commented but Anna shook her head.

“Maybe not too much like himself. We want  her to have a good impression of him you know.” Anna commented with a smirk. Taeyong swatted his hand at her, which caused her to laugh.

“Ok fine. When should I do this and what flowers should I bring her?” Taeyong asked the girls went silent to think.

“Why not tomorrow? Ask Mrs. Park if you can talk to her.” Anna said and Taeyong nodded.

“Ok, what about red roses?” He asked but ducked when he saw a hand coming for his head.

“Really? Roses? Of all of the flowers you could pick? Roses? Why not pick something more boring Taeyong?” Hana said and crossed her arms before shaking her head.

“I thought all girls liked roses?” Taeyong questioned and Anna pursed her lips.

“Ok, we have our work cut out for us Hana dear.” Anna said and Hana nodded her head.  Taeyong looked at both of them with slight fear but all three were distracted by the knock on the door. They all looked to see it was Jay holding a tray with tea. A whole day had passed at the Lee household with the three siblings planning out how tomorrow could go well for them.

At the Park household however, there was so much tension in the house it could be cut with a knife. Sora, her brother Sorin, and her parents were eating dinner in their dining room. Sorin, who rarely comes home because of how busy he is from his business, showed up when he heard his sister was getting married. He knew Lee Taeyong as he had done business with him in the past, so he was glad that it was him his sister was arranged too. However, judging by his sister’s state of appearance, he could tell she was far from elated at the news. It was a quiet dinner, their parents not saying a word, knowing it will only upset Sora even more. His mother especially gave him the eye before she and their father got up from the table, meaning he had to talk to her.

“Sora?” Sorin called but flinched when he saw his sister’s bloodshot eyes. Sorin had always grew up protecting his sister from the outside world and he wanted to protect her from this problem too, but he also thought this would be good for her. Even though they were siblings, they didn’t look anything like each other. Their father was Korean, and their mother was African American, but he looked more like their father and Sora like their mother. The two siblings grew up together and learned to read each other’s moods just by a glance. And with one glance he could tell his sister didn’t want to talk about the problem and wanted to just go to bed. But of course, being the brother he is, he dragged her away from the table to their lounge in their backyard where they could talk in privacy.

“Sora you have to talk to me. Why don’t you want to marry Taeyong? I have done business with him before and met him at business parties. He seems like such a nice guy and I really think he would be a good person for you.” Sora looked at her brother with betrayal in her eyes.

“Why are you going along with this? And what if the Lee Taeyong you met is just a front? The last thing I want to be married to is some guy with a mask on in front of other people.” Sora complained before crossing her arms and looking away.

“Do you take me for an idiot? You’re the one that always tells me to get to know someone before I judge them. And you have never broken that rule before, so I know that that isn’t your reason for not wanting this marriage. Be honest with me. Why don’t you want to get married? Or do you have someone else that you like?” Sorin asked and it went quiet for a few minutes. Sorin figured that was the answer and he opened his mouth the keep going but Sora cut him off.

“No, I don’t have anyone else I like. It’s just, I don’t know. I’m extremely nervous, for one. I have never even met the guy and mom and dad are already acting like I’m already engaged to him. Dad’s especially excited to hand me over to the guy because he scored the top business bachelor of the century.”

“You just wish if he had asked you before giving your hand?” Sorin asked and Sora couldn’t help but nod.

“It’s not like I wouldn’t have said no. At least not be completely against the idea like I am now. Also, as I mentioned before. He’s the most sought out bachelor of the century. Can you already imagine all the enemies we will have now because of this? He’s a Lee, Sorin!” Sora yelled before she fell back in her chair in disdain. Sorin felt really bad for his sister, but he didn’t know how to change her mind from this. Sora had always been stubborn and whatever she set her mind to she would do. Hopefully Taeyong will be able to change her mind tomorrow. Mrs. Park told this little information to Sorin and told him not to tell Sora.

“If I were to ask you to give him a chance, will you? You know how my instincts have always been right. My instincts are telling me to trust the guy, will you?” Sorin asked, hoping his sister will agree. She went quiet again but slowly nodded after a minute and Sorin nodded. “That’s all I ask. Now tell me. I haven’t seen you in six months. How have you been?” Sorin asked and Sora looked at him gratefully for the topic change before talking about how her life has been since they last saw each other.